Private email shows PlayStation chief unworried about Xbox-exclusive Call of Duty

Views

Artist's conception of Playstation chief Jim Ryan as he sent an email about the proposed Microsoft/Activision deal. (credit: Blogspot / Morning Companion)

Publicly, Sony has been adamant that Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision would give Microsoft too much power over PlayStation's access to key multi-console franchises like Call of Duty. Privately, though, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan seemed less concerned, according to a blockbuster email Microsoft presented Thursday during opening statements in a court hearing on the FTC's attempts to block the Activision purchase.

“It’s not an exclusive play at all,” Ryan said in the January 2022 email, as read by Microsoft lawyer Beth Wilkinson. "They are thinking bigger than that and they have the cash to make moves like this."

"I’ve spent a fair amount of time with both [Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer] and Bobby [Kotick] over the past day," Ryan continued in the email. "I’m pretty sure we will continue to see CoD on PlayStation for many years to come. I’m not complacent and I’d rather this hasn’t happened but we’ll be OK, more than OK.”

Read Also :

• Thousands of phones and routers swept into proxy service, unbeknownst to users
• WWDC 2024 starts on June 10 with announcements about iOS 18 and beyond
• Cities: Skylines 2 gets long-awaited official mod support and map editor

Read 8 remaining paragraphs | Comments

source https://arstechnica.com/?p=1949635